MECC Coronavirus (COVID 19) Weekly Report
SYRIA: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 49
Reporting period: from February 22 to March 1, 2021
Coronavirus cases: 15588 Active cases: 4760 Recovered: 9801 Deaths: 1027 [1]
Highlights
In GoS-controlled areas of the country, (as of 28 Feb), the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 15588 Laboratory-confirmed cases, 1027 fatalities, and 9801 Recoveries.
15588 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported by the Syrian MoH : 3113 in Damascus; 2375 in Lattakia; 2289 in Aleppo; 2259 in Homs; 1500 in Rural Damascus; 1147 in Tartous; 945 in Dar’a; 853 in Sweida; 716 in Hama; 261 in Quneitra; 61 in Deir-Ez-Zor; 35 in Al-Hasakeh and 7 in Ar-Raqqa.
Vaccine
Syria’s health ministry said on Monday 1 March, it had started administering Covid-19 vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers that are working within coronavirus isolation centres across governorates. The statement did not make clear what type of vaccine Syria had acquired or the quantity.[2]
The priority categories identified based on the National Technical Advisory Group recommendation, SAGE values framework and the COVAX facility fair allocation (prioritization roadmap) and the following high-risk groups were agreed upon as a target under COVAX:
o Health workforce (including front line social workers and teachers), 3% of population;
o Older adults >55-year population, about 13% of population;
o People with chronic diseases, 5% of population.
The vaccination of planned 20% will be carried out in 3 phases as follows, with the doses adjusted as per quantities made available by COVAX and adjusted population figures: [3]
[1] Microsoft power MOH,28 Feb 2021
[2] The guardian, 1 March 2021
[3] WHO, Update on COVID-19 vaccination in Syria
Lebanon: COVID-19
Humanitarian Update No. 46
Reporting period: from February 23 to March 1, 2021
Coronavirus cases: 355,073 Deaths: 4,340 Recovered: 268,071
Highlights
WHO corona-related statistics
During this reporting period, the average number of cases per day rose to 3,235.
The Minister of Public Health met with the officials of the approved vaccination centers and stressed the commitment of the plan and announced the postponement of the accreditation of the Baalbek and Batroun hospitals due to their violation of policies.
The Ministry of Public Health on the 27th of February, announced the arrival of 42,120 vaccines.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health launched a formal invitation for quotations from eligible Bidders for syringe, latex gloves, alcohol pads, sterile NaCl ampoules, plastic sharp containers and temperature monitors to be delivered to the ministry’s warehouse at Al Quarantina Beirut within a period not exceeding one month from contract signature.
According to the Minister of Health 20 companies are in negotiations to acquire the Russian and Chinese vaccine.
The Minister of Economy and Trade issued Circular No. 2/1 / A, related to reopening the economic sectors in stages, pursuant to the decision of the Ministerial Committee concerned with managing the Corona pandemic crisis at the national level, and within the framework of the implementation of the second phase of the aforementioned decision related to the reopening of the commercial sector, starting from 01 / 03/2021.
Concerning the vaccination of the members of parliament, the Ministry of Public Health issued the following statement: The sixteen representatives who received the vaccine did not take the role of others, but were registered on the platform, and the vaccination did not come randomly or comprehensively for all. The representatives were among the target groups, in addition to appreciation for their due and responsible role in legislation requiring vaccination. And that the Parliament station is part of the program of mobile campaigns on welfare institutions and official and spiritual headquarters.
Lebanon’s top COVID-19 expert and director of Rafik Hariri University Hospital warned of the possibility of a fourth wave of the virus, despite the start of the vaccine rollout.
Lebanon’s caretaker health minister Hamad Hasan has defended the national vaccination plan as “robust, coherent”. © Mohamed Azakir//Reuters
Communication and Public Relations Department